Cooking with Dolly and Rachel: A Taste of Country Life in "Good Lookin' Cookin'"

There are few things more delightful than immersing oneself in a book that not only nourishes the soul but also tantalizes the taste buds. As a lifelong admirer of Dolly Parton, I eagerly anticipated the release of "Good Lookin' Cookin'," co-authored by Dolly and her sister Rachel Parton George. Though I held off on buying the book before Christmas, hoping it would appear under my tree, I eventually purchased it a few weeks ago—and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. This cookbook is a treasure trove of heartfelt stories, mouthwatering recipes, and stunning photos.

From the moment I opened "Good Lookin' Cookin'," I was enchanted by the warmth and charm that radiate from its pages. Dolly Parton has always been a beacon of positivity and kindness, and this book is no exception. The stories shared by Dolly and Rachel provide a glimpse into their family life, filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. It felt like I was sitting at their kitchen table, listening to tales of their childhood and the traditions that have shaped their lives.

The recipes in this cookbook are nothing short of amazing. Each dish is crafted with care, offering a taste of Southern comfort that is both nostalgic and delicious. From hearty breakfasts to decadent desserts, the Parton sisters have curated a collection of recipes that are sure to become family favorites. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow, making it accessible for cooks of all skill levels.

What truly sets this cookbook apart are the beautiful photos that accompany each recipe. The images capture the essence of the dishes, making my mouth water and inspiring me to get into the kitchen and start cooking. The visuals add an extra layer of enjoyment, allowing readers to fully appreciate the artistry and effort that went into creating this book.

As someone who has adored Dolly Parton since I was a child, I can confidently say that "Good Lookin' Cookin'" is a reflection of her angelic persona. Dolly's warmth, generosity, and genuine love for her fans shine through in every page. This cookbook is a testament to the bond between Dolly and Rachel, and their shared passion for food and family.

If you haven't yet added "Good Lookin' Cookin'" to your collection, I highly recommend doing so. It's a delightful read that will bring joy to your heart and deliciousness to your table. Whether you're a longtime Dolly fan or simply someone who loves good food, this book is a must-have.

I hope you find my review of "Good Lookin' Cookin'" helpful and inspiring. If you've had the chance to try out any of the recipes or read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences—please leave a comment below. Your feedback helps build our wonderful cooking community.
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From Mama's Kitchen: The Story and Recipe—Celebrating My Mama's Spaghetti

Hello, dear readers! (and my sister, Becki),

Today, I want to share a special entry dedicated to my mama's spaghetti, a dish that was loved by many in our family, even though it wasn't my personal favorite due to my aversion to tomatoes. This story is meant to highlight the uniqueness of my mama's cooking and to clarify that her spaghetti was truly cherished by those who enjoyed it.

A few days ago, I wrote about my humorous journey with spaghetti and how it was never really my thing. If it seemed like I was making fun of my mama's cooking, I want to set the record straight, that was not my intent. The story was not about her cooking, but rather my general dislike for the dish, no matter who cooks it. While I may have a love-hate relationship with spaghetti, I have great respect for my mama's culinary skills. She excelled in Home Economics during her junior high and high school years, and many of her recipes were based on what she learned during the 1950s and 1960s. Her spaghetti sauce was homemade, and though ketchup was added sometimes, it was never the main ingredient. This addition of ketchup was likely due to the occasional absence of tomato paste, adding a bit more acidity and texture to the final product.

To be fair, my dislike for spaghetti somewhat stems from my dislike of tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions—all of which my mama loved and used generously in her cooking. Despite my distaste for these ingredients, there were some dishes my mama cooked that I absolutely loved, like her fried pork chops, tuna casserole, and even liver and onions, which I enjoyed despite my usual dislike of onions.

Back to the tomato thing—although I didn't like tomatoes, I did love lasagna and pizza, both of which my mama and my sister were amazing at making. My sister, Becki Manning Dannelly, especially loved our mama's spaghetti. This post is dedicated to her.

Pheroldine “Dee” Manning Lyons' Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground beef (the ratio doesn’t matter because we got whatever was on sale or cheapest)

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup of bell peppers, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced (she usually just used minced garlic from a jar or garlic powder)

• 1 14-ounce can of whole tomatoes, drained and cut up

• 1 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes, cut up, reserve the liquid to add to sauce

• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste

• 1/4 cup parsley (I don’t think she ever had any on hand and since you don’t taste it, it’s not important)

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (dark or light, she used whatever was on hand)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed

• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

• 1 bay leaf

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, combine onion, bell pepper, meat, and garlic; cook until meat is browned and onion is tender.

2. Skim off excess grease; add the rest of the ingredients along with 2 cups of water.

3. Simmer, uncovered, until sauce is thick, which usually takes a few hours. Your house will have a distinct tomato-ish smell; stir occasionally.

4. Remove bay leaf.

Serve over hot spaghetti pasta, or like my mama would do, just dump the hot spaghetti into the pot as a one pot wonder and stir it all together then serve on a plate…with a squirt of ketchup on top or grated parmesan cheese if we had it (and if the container wasn’t empty from my sister and I randomly eating handfuls of it).

Don't forget the garlic bread! Mama would use whatever bread we had on hand for garlic bread—hot dog buns, hamburger buns, sandwich bread, and if we were lucky, she made some from her delicious homemade sourdough bread.

This sauce recipe was sort of the same she used for her lasagna but without the bell pepper, which we didn’t get often because it involved a bit more work. But when we did, it was basically party night for our family. Especially since she doubled the ingredients to ensure she had enough meat sauce to fill her 9x13 baking pan that she used for everything from cake to casseroles. I’ll share her actual recipe for lasagna in the future, but for now, enjoy my mama’s spaghetti and feel free to make your own tweaks.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I'd love to hear your thoughts and memories about your own family recipes in the comments below. If you enjoyed this story and recipe, feel free to share it with your friends. Your support, whether through comments or contributions, means the world to me and helps keep this blog going!

Happy cooking!

Thanksgiving Memories: A Look Back at My Childhood Celebrations

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, I find myself reflecting on the holiday traditions of my childhood. This year has been a whirlwind of medical appointments for both Terry and me, along with work and the usual hustle of life. Amidst all this chaos, I’m incredibly grateful for the much-needed vacation we took back in March. Cruising from Miami to the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola, and the Bahamas was fantastic, even though we came back with COVID-19. But today’s post isn’t about this year; it’s about the Thanksgivings of my childhood.

My mom always had the best intentions in the kitchen, even though she wasn’t the best cook. She did excel in certain areas, and she always tried to make Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving special for our family. This sometimes included our extended family, mainly my Aunt Beverly and Uncle Gene. Mama loved turkey, but she never quite mastered cooking it; it was never undercooked, just dry. Despite using the instructions on the label, the turkey always came out that way. When I started cooking, I managed to get it right the first time. My dad was amazed, noting that after 20 years, my mom couldn’t perfect it, but there I was, nailing it on my first try. I spent a lot of time at the library in Milton, Florida, reading old cookbooks from the 1950s and 1960s. These books had plenty of tips and recipes, especially for making a whole turkey, which families cooked year-round back then. One essential tip that turkey labels should include is to pour a generous amount of chicken or vegetable broth into the pan to keep the turkey moist from the start.

Mama mainly stuck with ham for Christmas and Easter, but she knew my dad and I loved turkey, so she felt obligated to make one at least for Thanksgiving. I’ve always preferred turkey over ham, even if it’s dry. But I do enjoy ham too.

The week before Thanksgiving, Mama would already have done all the grocery shopping. She made the cornbread for her dressing a few days in advance and started baking sweets the night before. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and sweet potato pie were her specialties. Her sweet potato pie used the same ingredients as the pumpkin pie, except she substituted sweet potatoes for canned pumpkin. Both were amazing. Mama also made divinity, fudge, and a fruit salad with fresh and canned fruit. Her fudge was delicious, old-fashioned fudge, but she loaded it with pecans, which I hated. I was never a fan of nuts due to their texture. I loved her divinity too, but it was also filled with pecans. I learned to suck on a piece until it melted in my mouth and then spit out the nuts. My dad hated when I did that and would slap me on the back of my head, but it worked for me.

Thanksgiving morning, I’d wake up to the smell of coffee brewing. I loved coffee back then, but my parents didn’t allow my sister and me to drink it. Becki, my sister, recently told me our parents thought it was bad for us. I suspect they were worried we’d use up too much sugar and milk. I drink black coffee and always did when I snuck a cup, so they had nothing to worry about. I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while Mama worked in the kitchen, preparing turkey, cornbread stuffing (ingredients similar to those found in the Better Homes and Gardens and Paula Deen cookbooks), candied yams, green beans (never green bean casserole), mashed potatoes with giblet gravy and other fixings.

After the parade, Mama, Daddy, Becki, and I would sit at the kitchen table, stuffing ourselves with everything Mama cooked. We were always grateful for her ability to make everything but the turkey so amazing. After dinner, we’d shower, get ready, and head out to a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect tree. Return home and stuff ourselves again before decorating the tree before heading to bed.

In one of my upcoming blog entries, I'll be sharing all about our adventures at Christmas Tree Farms and our quest to find the perfect tree. Stay tuned!